Working Demand For The Soldier

Outline of talk

What is a military operation?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants of military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application

Narrowing the scope:

Physiological fitness is defined as strength and endurance related variables
Military personnel are not being categorized into their military occupational specialties
Will not delve into biological mechanisms occurring during operations (i.e. hormones)

To get an understanding of this assignment and why the physical fitness is of importance for the soldier, we need to start with what is characterizing a military operations.
and then we look into the demand of the modern soldier
so will I talk about determinants of military readiness
Before I talk about the benefit of maintaining physical fitness
I will then talk about training strategies to maintain physical fitness during prolonged operations
before I ending up with a practical application

“click” to narrowing the scope a little bit,

Physiological fitness is defined as strength and endurance related variables
Military personnel are not being categorized into their military occupational specialties
Will not delve into biological mechanisms occurring during operations (i.e. hormones)

Outline of talk

What is a military operation?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants of military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application

Military operations

Range of military operations (ROMO)

The conflict continuum forms the operation (inspired by doctrine.af.mil)

Military operations

What characterizes these operations

1. Military engagement

routine military activities (day-to day conflict tension low)

2. Crisis response

peace enforcement (i.e. noncombat evacuation, peace operations)

3. Major operations

often large-scale or long duration operations (often associated with wartime conditions)

Military operations

Military readiness

Military readiness is dependent of soldiers’ physical fitness

“click”, Along with the increasing tension in a conflict, the soldier must constantly cope with an increased degree of intensity and complexity of the operation.
Meaning the soldier needs to be ready for the demands of the operations both physically and mentally, AND this defines the soldiers military readiness. Which must be sustained irrespective of where they are in this conflict continuum.
And to sustain this military readiness over time,“click” it demands that the soldiers physical fitness level is maintained as high as possible independent of being in this stable peace area (POINT) with low intensity of conflict or mowing towards maximum intensity and complexity in war time..
So this demand line of fitness need to be high to ensure soldiers military readiness, as the conflict may move from left to right very fast..

Outline of talk

What is military operations?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants for military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application

Military operations

Demands of physical fitness - has increased

Figure from (Nindl et al. 2013; Boye et al. 2017)

Military readiness

Demands of physical fitness - anaerobic battlefield

Technology and equipment
Fast moving to the objective

Military operations

Demands of physical fitness - heavy tasks

Increased physically demanding tasks
Heavy duties increase 12-22% compared to garrison duties

(Boye et al. 2017)

Military working demands

What is your working demand in your filed of expertise?
- Spend two minutes to discuss - reflect upon this question

Outline of talk

What is military operations?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants for military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application

Military operations

Determinants for military readiness

Strength and endurance factors

Strength capacity

Moderate to strong correlations (r > 0.4)

(Data from: Hauschild et al. 2017; Hendrickson et al. 2010; Mala et al. 2015; NATO 2019; Ojanen, Kyröläinen, et al. 2018)

Determinants for military readiness

Strength and endurance factors

Endurance capacity

Moderate to strong correlations (r > 0.4)

(Data from: Hauschild et al. 2017; Hendrickson et al. 2010; Mala et al. 2015; NATO 2019; Ojanen, Kyröläinen, et al. 2018)

Determinants for military readiness

Strength and endurance factors

Strength capacity

Moderate to strong correlations (r > 0.4)

Endurance capacity

Moderate to strong correlations (r > 0.4)

(Data from: Hauschild et al. 2017; Hendrickson et al. 2010; Mala et al. 2015; NATO 2019; Ojanen, Kyröläinen, et al. 2018)

Military readiness

Determinants for military readiness

Multi-factor stresses on soldiers

Military readiness

Determinants for military readiness

Consequences of being in a multi-stress environment

These multi-stress factors are typically observed during field exercises

Consequences of being in a multi-stress environment

The soldier is in a challenging position

(Hamarsland et al. 2018; Vikmoen et al. 2020; Nindl et al. 2002)

Consequences of bein in a multi-stress environment

The soldier is in a challenging position

Consequences are decreased physical/military performance
Can even jeopardize mission and lives

(Henning, Park, and Kim 2011)

Outline of talk

What is military operations?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants for military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Benefits of physical fitness during deployment

(Kraemer and Szivak 2012; Taylor et al. 2008; Zwilling et al. 2020; Szivak and Kraemer 2015; Kyrolainen et al. 2018; Warr et al. 2012, 2013)

Outline of talk

What is military operations?
The demand of the military soldier
Determinants for military readiness
Benefit of maintaining physical fitness
Training strategies during deployment to preserve physical fitness and military readiness
Practical application

Strategies for maintaining physical fitness

Training principles

Ok, these training strategies revolve around three main principles designed to give your body the right kind of stimuli to trigger changes in your neuromuscular and cardiorespiratory system.
And will thus have an effect on maintaining this physical fitness demand (point)
For.example, we can induce a stimuli to these body systems by including repeated bouts with progressive OVERLOAD, that subsequently would enhance structural adaptations over time.
We can also use the principle of specificity of training. Where we replicate the movement pattern of a specific task, which progressively increase in intensity. Over time this would stimulate the neurmuscular system to adapt and enhance performance in THAT specific task
And, to reduce training monotomy and stagnation in adaptations, the periodization strategy, is often applied in training plans. Wherein the purpose is to systematically vary in training modalities, exercise, intensity and volume, to ensure variation in training stimuli and thus enhance development of adaptations over time. This may also may reduce the potential for overtraining

Strategies for maintaining physical fitness

Periodization training strategy

Recommended for soldiers both before and during deployment (Mala, Szivak, and Kraemer 2015; Kraemer and Szivak 2012)
Block periodization of different training focus (strength, endurance, power ect.) in shorter periods (mesocycles)

Shown to be a effective training model for enhancing physical fitness in athletes (Mølmen, Øfsteng, and Rønnestad 2019)
For both strength and endurance capacities (Ronnestad, Ofsteng, and Ellefsen 2018)

Training strategies

Possible to train systematic over time?

Prolonged operations in the literature

“The bigger picture”

Prolonged military operations (deployment)
- has duration of 3-15 months in the literature

Deployed in Afghanistan, Chad, Lebanon, Iraq, Kosovov

(Henning, Park, and Kim 2011)

What is seen during deployments in changes in physical fitness

(Created from: Pihlainen et al. 2023)

Strength and Power in general not that negatively affected

Aerobic performance decrements
In general some variation (shaded area = ± 7% margin)

What is seen during deployment studies in changes in body composition

(Created from: Pihlainen et al. 2023)

Less than 4% change in body mass and muscle mass over these prolonged periods (shaded area = ± 4% margin)

Changes in both directions

Larger variation in fat mass changes

Characteristics of deployment studies

Deployment duration and country

Affecting outcomes from deployment studies:
Duration of deployment period
Countries (environments)?

Characteristics of deployment studies

Post-deployment measure

Affecting outcomes from deployment studies:

delay of measurements post deployment
range 0 to 60 days
209 days in Sharp et al 2008

Why this drop in aerobic capacity

Training volume drops

Reduction in solders endurance training during deployment

Lester 2010 - 88% vs 29%

Sharp 2008 - 80 vs 35%

Rintamaki 2012 - 11%

Warr 2013 - 57%

Aerobic training is not prioritized these years, due to low air quality
Respiratory health concerns?
Initially fitness level?

(Garshick and Blanc 2023; Pihlainen et al. 2020)

Strength - less change between pre vs during deployment

Lester 2010 - 63% vs 44%

Sharp 2008 - 58% vs 56%

Rintamaki 2012 - 13%

Warr 2013 - 67%

But, why this drop in aerobic capacity, “click”,
We see that some early studies around 2010, soldiers report to train less aerobic during deployment compared to garrison duty.
88 percent of soldies trained under garrison, pre-deployment
while 29% performed endurance training deployed
Hence the training volume drops…
“click”, Whereas for strength there is a lower or no drop between pre and deployment..
Why is it so, “click”, one reason could be the low air quality in these countries and the solders were actually obligated not to perform aerobic exercise due to respiratory health concerns.
another, reason, which is speculated upon in the papers, could be related to that better fit soldiers entering deployment period does not have sufficient training stimuli during deployment to maintain their capacity..
while the more sustained or improved strength outcomes, could in this regard, be related to lower fit soldiers entering the deployment period, and achieved adaptations by repeated overload stimulus by doing more heavy task assignment during the deployment period

Summary slide of deployments studies

Body composition is not that affected over these prolonged deployment periods

Aerobic capacity seems to decline more than strength capacity

There are large heterogeneity between deployment studies in duration and measurements time points

Makes it challenging to draw valid conclusions

Physical training during deployment

Can more optimal training conditions be achieved during deployment?

Lowest conflict level
Probably most feasible time to implement systematic training

Physical training during deployment

Can more optimal training conditions be achieved during deployment?

Sustained low level of conflict
Minimal with combined multi-stressor factors

Training during prolonged operation

A study demonstraining the importance of training during deployment

Training during prolonged operation

The importance of training

Warr et al 2013

88 soldiers joined the study
Unknown place and duration of deployment
The measurements were conducted 10 days after homecoming
Reporting training frequency performed during deployment period

Training during prolonged operation

The importance of training

Reported training frequency during the deployment:

Aerobic training: 57% of the soldiers reported >= 3 times per week

Strength training: 67% of the soldiers reported >= 3 times per week

Training during prolonged operation

The importance of training

Performance:

Greater changes in aerobic capacity with higher training frequency (>3 wk)

Greater changes in strength (upper-body) with higher training frequency (>3 wk)

Reduced fat mass and increased muscle mass

Changes in body composition occurred independent of training frequency during the deployment

Training during prolonged operation

The importance of training

Health:

Greater training frequency of aerobic training was associated with better percieved health status post deployment

Study demonstrates the importance of maintain training during deployment on physical fitness and perceived health

Training during prolonged operation

Deployed in Lebanon for 6 months

Pihlainen et al 2022

Long term effects of combined strength and endurance training on body composition and physical performance.

During deployment:
- Activities were patrolling, observations outside the military base, duties inside the camp
- Low intensity during the stay, but obligated to maintain operative readiness - so some psychological stress of the soldier

Training during prolonged operation

Periodization model

78 male soldiers

Performed block-periodization training

Split into three experimental groups:

Trad: 2 strength and 2 endurance session

Strength focus group, 3 strength + 1 endurance session

Endurance focus group, 3 endurance + 1 strength session

Control group, reporting their training

(Pihlainen et al. 2022)

Training during prolonged operation

Periodization model

In average the soldiers performed 3.2 training session per week during the period

Overall all, the training groups improved:

Muscle mass

Maximal isometric force (lower body)

Military task performance test

Maintained endurance performance

Maintained body mass

Control also observed positive changes

Authors observed large variation between individual responses

Different fitness levels at baseline
Suggesting importance of individual programs

Training during prolonged operation

Periodization model

In summary

Training in average 3 times per week of combined strength and endurance training during deployment

Soldiers maintained endurance, strength parameters and improved military task performance

Training systematic during low conflict levels seems to maintain physical fitness in soldiers

Task specific training during deployment

“Train as you will fight”

Replicate the movement pattern experiencing on the battlefield

Why this training focus:

Neuromuscular system is primed for the specific physical performance movements

Sustained force out put

Decrease risk of injury

Better prepared to handle the battlefield military tasks and requirements (military readiness)

(Vaara et al. 2022; Mala et al. 2015; Knapik et al. 2012; Reilly, Morris, and Whyte 2009)

Another training strategy which can be implemented during deployment, is the task specific training, aligning with the idea of “train as you will fight.”

Throughout time load carriage has shown to be an essential occupational task for soldiers during military operations.
“click”, Meaning there is a need to specific train for this loading task, which can be done by performing similar repetitive loading movements in the training programs, thus facilitating the neuromuscular system to adapt and then perform better in that particular movement task..
“click” This can eventually lead to better sustained force output, as the task would be relatively easier to perform with the soldiers better skill performance
“click” repeated movement training, can also reduce risk of injury
“click” consequently, the soldier would be better prepared to handle the battlefield military tasks and requirements (military readiness)
this specificity of training on improving occupational tasks, was investigated in a military population by Ojanen.

To highlight the physical demands of soldiers’ job tasks, the principle of specificity is key, aligning with the idea of “train as you will fight.”

Task specific training during deployment

“Train as you will fight”

Ojanen et al 2020

Included 42 soldiers
12 week training study
Military environment

Allocated to either:
- Tasks specific group; full combat gear (27kg), performing sprints, crawling, and casualty drag (high intensity effort)
- Strength group: traditional resistance training program (1-15 RM)
- control group: regular military training, circut training

Task specific training during deployment

“Train as you will fight”

Test:

Several strength and power measures

Task specificity test:

Military task performance test consisted of sprints, crawling, carrying objects, casualty evacuation.

Task specific training during deployment

“Train as you will fight”

Task specific group and strength group improved performance more than control (6 weks)

Able to maintain performance the last 6 weeks

Doing task specific training are an alternative to resistance training during deployment

“click”, The task specific training group and traditional strength training group, improved more in the simulated military task course, compared to a control group after the first 6 weeks (point on groups, time went down in these groups)
They also observed. that the task specific training group, displayed greater improvements in most part of the course compared to the strength group, THUS highlighting the specificity of the task specific training program.
“click”,They, also maintained physical fitness and task course performance, despite of high amount of field training and decreased number of training session the last 6 weeks.

“click” - This study illustrates, when only few training options are available, task specific training are a good alternative to regular resistance training to promote and maintain physical fitness level for the deployed soldier…

Knapnik et al. 2012 (meta-analyses), supports the effects of task specific training on improving military occupational task

Training strategy

Maintain physical fitness as good as possible during deployment

Minimal dose needed?

1 moderate to hard session per week has shown to:
- maintain strength capacity (Taylor et al. 2008)
- maintain endurance capacity (Rønnestad and Hansen 2018)

Training strategy

Stable peace - low conflict intensity

Training strategy

Increased events of operations during deployment

Fast changing situations, demands quick response time during deployment
Currently there are no military standards for physical training during deployment (Pihlainen et al. 2022)

Increased events of operations during deployment

Minimize the drop in soldiers physical fitness

Sustain physical fitness?
Maintain military readiness over time?

Military operation simulation studies

Field exercises

Large changes following field exercises (2-10 days)

To get an understanding of what exactly happens with soldiers physical fitness during high-intensity operations, we can look into these military field studies. To get an idea what happens with body composition and physical performance in repose to these exercises,
As we remember; these field exercises are exposing the soldier in combination of the stressors during non-deployment periods (POINT), to prepare and train the soldier for similar situation on the real-life battlefield..
“click”, SO, I plotted data from field studies to get an impression on what happens in body composition and performance outcomes..
with authors on the y-axsis and percent change on the x-axis…
“click”, as we can see, there is substantial changes in body composition and physical performance following field exercises,
point; there is seen up to 10% decline in body mass, 40% loss in fat mass and 1-3% loss of muscle mass
AND, performance decline from 5-30%, in jump height or strength
THESE changes occurs after only few days exposed to a stressful environment

What can we learn from these field studies simulating extreme operations during deployment

There is likely to be a drop in physical fitness and muscle performance during these extreme conditions

It is often related to multiple-stressor in combination for periods

Difficult to avoid

Flexible periodization model during deployment

More chooices for the soldier is needed!

Soldiers need more flexibility than athletes (Mala, Szivak, and Kraemer 2015; Kraemer and Szivak 2012)
Acute situations and stressors affects soldiers readiness for training

Well as we know, due to the soldier may not be in a physiologically optimal state to train systematically every week, because of the increased intensity and complexity with the conflict level, The soldier need more flexibility in their training plan in such periods.”click”
so by having more flexible session, POINT, which can be performed on a day to day basis depending on circumstances and how the soldiers physiologically state is, is an interesting method
“click show”, This could be a more optimal training strategy for the soldier, wherein sessions can be performed between these demanding operations, wherein a training window is possible.
This is likely the closet the soldier can come to an anabolic window, where the stress factors is minimized during times where there is more frequent operations occurring
And thus, gives the soldier an opportunity to maintain his physical fitness

Flexible periodization model during deployment

Suggestion of a flexible program

So, an example of a possible model for this flexibility I draw up this model.. .
Over a given mescocyle (i.e. 6 weeks) the soldier, together with his commandor, have set a specific training goal which the soldier try to maintain or even improve if possible.
Then the soldier have three alternative session to switch between; hard, moderate and easy session, which varies in intensity and volume
then the individual soldier choose which session to conduct on a day to day basis, taken into account their physiological state and which stressors they have operated in the last days…
for.exe, on hard and long day in the field, they choose the easy session, with focus on UB strength for instance
while another day, feeling more recovered, a hard session program can be performed, for.ex 2-days in a row in this time window

Micro training strategy

A good idea to implement for soldiers?

Time restriction
Very short training session - any effect?

Micro training cycles

A good idea to implement for soldiers?

Kilen et al 2015

Participants 29
Performed 8 week training in a military environment

Gr 1: 9 x 15 min sessions per week (Micro)
Gr 2: 3 x 45 min session per week (Classic)
Weekly training volume was the same

Exercises:

Heavy resistance training (5-8 RM - 2-3 sets)
High-intensity endurance training (2-4 min intervals x 6 to 9 )
Muscle endurance training (30 sec per series in 5 exercises)

Micro training cycles

A good idea to implement for soldiers?

Similar adaptations between groups after 8 weeks:

Aerobic performance

Strength performance

Micro training cycles

A good idea to implement for soldiers?

My be a good alternative during time restricted periods during deployment
Some training time is better than nothing

Flexible periodization model during deployment

Recovery aspect following operations

NOTABLY
Post demanding operations:
- Recovery days (optimal 1-2 weeks)

Summary of flexible periodisation

Advantage:
- The commandor knows that the soldier is doing training to maintain physical fitness over a certain time period
- Easier to control recovery and mitigate overtraining

Disadvatage:
- The commandor does not know wheter the training is done
- There is a risk that the soldier frequently choose the easy session (unmotivated)

Suggestion to increase training motivation:
- maybe include frequent testing of physical fitness during deployment?
- to motivate progression in training

What we do pre-doplyment is also of importance

A high baseline in physical fitness

A high baseline to minimize the drop?

The drop can tell us something about the baseline
Baseline physical fitness need to be high
- Delay drop in physical fitness during operations?
- To better preserve readiness during deployment

(Hamarsland et al. 2018; Ojanen, Häkkinen, et al. 2018; Solberg et al. 2015)

an initial higher baseline, have more relatively strength or endurance capacities to loose, and the soldier may thus maintain physical demand longer by having a “reserve physical capacity” when entering the deployment period (POINT)
as illustrated here in soldier 1 and 2…, wherein soldier 1 better preserve physical fitness and readiness at a given time.
So, Sufficient training ahead of deployment is of importance, and can not be overlooked in this regard..
and thus is a strategy to mitigate loss of military readiness

enough

the importance of high physical fitness at baseline, can be supported by what is seen during intake of recruits to the Norwegian Special Forces.
Those individuals who have a higher physical fitness level at baseline, did also display a greater possibility to successfully complete extreme demanding training periods

Summary of strategies

- During low intensity conflict periods

Including frequent training sessions seems to maintain physical fitness and perceived health during deployment

Including task specific training - could maintain soldiers physical fitness

Maintain physical fitness with one weekly session could be possible in periods (minimal dose needed)

- During high intensity conflict periods

More strategies is needed to sustain physical fitness

Flexible periodization can be an alternative to better sustain training continuity

Short micro sessions of high intensity - low volume can be an effective and time efficient strategy

High as possible physical fitness level pre-deployment can maintain soldiers physical resilience

Practical application

Training strategies:

Create mesocyles with specific training goals for the individual soldier

Make 3-4 alternative session (easy to hard) which can be chosen by the soldier depending on his/her physiological readiness

Short micro session is probably better than no training session

Notably:

A short recovery period following demanding operations is necessary, to minimize delayed recovery and military readiness

Initial fitness level must be optimized as good as possible before entering a deployment period

Thank you

References

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